Stamp-canceling and postmarking machine.



No. 687,232. Patented Nov. 26, 190i.

G. HEY. STAMP CANCELING ANDPOSTMABKING MACHINE. l (Applimifml mea my 31, 1887.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet I.

"mlm WITNESSESI INVENTOR 7i/VM wfw, BW l @M 1%@ No. 687,232. Patented NOV. 26, |90I. G. W. HEY.

STAMP CANCELING AND POSTMABKING MACHINE.

(Application led May 31, 1887.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSBS: Y INVBNTOR ATTORNEYS Tw: uonms #ETERS co, Wow-umu., WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 687,232.' Patented mw.- 26,19m.v

G. w. HEY. Y sum cAucr-:Lme Aun PosmAmuNs mclane; (Application led May 31, 1887.)

'(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 3.

`r'm: maiis PETERS co,. Fuero-luna, WASHINGTON, D. c?,

No. 687,232. Patented Nov. 26, |90I.

G. W. HEY.

STAMP CANCELING AND POSTMABKING MACHINE.

(Applicatio'n led May 31, 1887.)

' 9 Shoots-Sheet 4.

(No lllod el.)

INVBNTOR WITNESSES: /M WHW..

ATTORNEYS- 'mi wams PETERS co.. ndorauruc.. wAsmNGTup, n. l;

. G. W. HEY. lSTAMP GANGELING AND PSTMARKING MACHINE. (Application med my 31, lsv.)

No. 687,232. Patented Nov. 26, l90l.

(No Model.) 9 -sheets-mmf s.

WITNESSES INVBNTOR ATTORNEYS No. 687,232. Patented Nov. 26, |90I.v

s. w. HEY.

STAMP CANCELING AND POSTMARKING MACHINE.

(Application tiled May 81, 1887.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

l ff..

No. 687,232.v Patented Nov. 26, |901.

l l G. W. HEY.

STAMP GANCELING Ann PUSTMABKING MACHINE.

. (Applxmm mad my a1, 1587,)

9 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

y j s. wLHEY.) STAMP CANCELING AND PDSTMABKING MAACHINE.

(Application led May 31, 1887.) u (No Model.)

9v Sheets-Sheet 8.V

Patented Nov. 2s, 19m.

G.W. HEY.

STAMP cANcELmG Aun PosTmAnKlNG MACHINE.

(Application led May S1, 1887.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 9.

(No Model.)

rn: :conm: PETERS to.. Pumouruo.. WASHINGTON. D.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

GEORGE W. I-IEY, OE SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, ABY DIRECT `AND MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE INTERNATIONAL POSTAL SUPPLY OOM- PANY OE NEW YORK. y

STAMP-CANCELING AND` POSTMARKING IVIACHINE. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,232, dated November 26, 1901.

Application nea May s1. Iss?. serai No. 239.830. cromato ToV @ZZ whom t may concern: l sliding rod and adjacent parts, taken on line Be it known that 1, GEORGE W. HEY, of :1c :rin Fig. 2. Fig. Bis an enlarged top plan of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the the parts illustrated in Fig. 2.` i Fig. 4" illus- State of New York, have invented new and tratesa top plan of the marking and mail-feed- 5 useful Improvements in Stamp Canceling ingmechanism,illustratingmoreparticularly 55,:

and Postmarking Machines, of which the folthe arrangement of the separating devices for lowing, taken in connection with the accomfeeding the mail matter forward consecupanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact tively, the feed-rollers next to the separator description. being in theirnormal position. Fig. 5 is an en- Io My invention relates to improvements in largedside elevation ofthe marking-rollerand 6o automatic stamp-canceling and postmarkingthe gearing on the main shaft of the machine machines, the object being to produce a mechwhich transmits motion to the marking-roller anism which is simple in construction and and rotates the same positively. Fig. 6 is a positive, durable, rapid, and automatic in opperspective view of `my improved stamp-can- 15 eration. celing and postmarking machine, illustrating 65 To this end the invention consistsina markthe general arrangement of the parts as asing-die-carrying roller and a pressure-roller, sembled for use. Fig. 7 is an enlarged deone of which is movable away from and totached view of the follower for feeding the Ward the other for preventing smearing of mailto the feed or separating roller, which is zo the parts when no letter is passing and a con-l operated by the marking-roller through the 7o tact-piece arranged lto make contact with the medium of the timing-lever. Fig. Sis an enmail-matter and prevent the separation of larged inverted perspective view of the mechthe rollers when a letter is passing, so that vanism for operating the pressure-roller by the the letter may be marked. mail-matter for bringing the marking-roller z5 The invention also consists in a yielding into action. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detached 75 bearing for one of said rollers, a cam for the detail View of the sliding rod which carries other, a movable rod on the yielding bearing, the block for releasing the rod which causes a stop for engaging the rod, and connections the pressure-roller to oscillate to and' from between said contact-piece and stop. the marking-roller. Fig. 10 is a top plan,

3o It furthermoreconsistsinthe feeding mechvand Fig. 11 a side elevation, of a modified 8o anism for feeding the letters to the marking form of Inail-marking and feeding mechanand pressure rollers and in the detail conism embodying my invention, while Fig. 12 struction and arrangement of the parts, all is a detail View thereof. Fig. 13 represents as hereinafter more particularly described, a plan view of the machine, showing the feed- 35 and pointed'out in the claims. l ing-table, the mail-marking mechanism, and 85 In specifying myinvention reference is had the tray or Inail-stacking table in position; to the accompanying drawings, forming a and Fig. 14, a transverse vertical section on part of this specification, in which like charthe line 14 14, Fig. 13. acters indicate corresponding parts in all the A represents the frame, and B B the legs,

4o views. p of my improved marking-machine, both of 9o Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the which are of any suitable form, size, or-congeneral construction and arrangement of the struction. machine, a portion of the side frame being The primary actuating device consists of a broken away to sho-w the marking roller. treadle C and a connecting-rod pivoted to the 45 Fig. 2 is an enlarged inverted bottom plan of crank of the shaft/H, that carries the 'bal- 95 the marking-roller and pressure-roller, illusance-wheel D and the pulley E. v trating the detail construction and arrange- F is the driving-belt for transmitting mo-` ment of the timing device for controlling the tion from the pulley E to the sections of the action of the marking-and pressure rollers. tight and loose pulley E on the shaft s toper- 5o Fig. 2 isalongitudinal vertical section ofthe mit the stoppage of the shaft s When'th'e Ico shifter S moves the belt upon the loose section of said tight and loose pulley E'.

Mounted upon the main frame A of the machine is a table or frame A', which forms a support for the marking-roller and the actuating means for postmarking letters and` other traveling mail-matter and canceling the stamps thereon.

a is 'thel marking-roller, and b' the pressureroller or platen, one of which, preferably the pressure-roller b', is movable away from and toward the other, being journaled in an 0scillating or yielding frame I and adapted'to carrya belt h, which passes around and drives the drum 7, Fig. 4. A bent spring O, secured to the table A', bears against the yoke I for yieldingly holding the pressure-roller Z2' against the marking-roller a.

At one extremity of the marking or printing roller a' is the marking-die m, Fig. 5, which is inked from the roller o, Fig. l, and at the other extremity is the belt a, which passes around the drum 4. This drum 4 is mounted in yielding bearings (shown by dotted lines at Fig. 4) for permitting the drum to yield to letters of dierent thicknesses. It will be particularly noted that the belts a and b are of unequal width, the belt a being the narrower and arranged with its lower edge above the marking-die to expose a portion of the mail-matter to the action ot the die.

The marking-roller a' is driven positively and rotates continuously. The preferable means for rotating the marking-rolleris illustrated in the enlarged view, Fig. 5, and consists of the bevel-gear g on the shaft s, which meshes with a gear g', secured to the journal of the marking-roller. The pressureroller b turns by frictional contact with the marking-roller a', as best shown in the enlarged plan views, Figs. 2 and 3, until the marking-die 'nt comes in close proximity to the periphery of the pressure-roller, whereupon if no letter or other mail-matter is passing the pressure-roller is to prevent smearing of the parts forced from Contact with the marking-roller by mechanism immediately described. On the contrary, if a letter is passing between the rollers a' b' the pressureroller remains in its position adjacent to the marking-roller and forms a support or platen for the letters when being stamped by the marking-roller, thus rendering the mark clear and defined.

The yokeIof the pressure-roller is provided with bearings f and 7c, in which is movable a bar or rodf. One extremity, Fig. 2, of the rodfis provided wit-h the friction-roller e and the other with the spiral n, which serves to force the rodftoward the marking-roller with a constant pressure. The yoke I, as -shown in Figs. 2 and 8, is also provided with an abutment i, in the shape of a pin, stud, or shoulder, located in the path ot the locking or stop block p, to be described. This friction-roller e in the extremity of the rodf is in constant contact with the cam d on the shaft of the marking-roller a', and the cam d and rod j' serve, in connection with the abutment t and locking or stop block p, as a means or connection for forcing the pressure-roller b from the marking-roller ct' when no letter is passing and the die m is approaching the periphery of the pressure-roller b'. The locking or stop bloekp is connected to or mounted upon the rod r, Fig. 2, which passes through a tubular bearing t2, pivoted to the table A' at r', and through a slot in the rod f, Fig. 9, for conforming to the movement of the pressureroller frame or yoke I. The spiralp', secured to the table A', serves to normally press the locking-block p into engagement with the shoulder 'n' of the rod f. The locking or stop block 2J is also connected with the yoke I, so as to move therewith, by the aforesaid abutmenti or in any other suitable way which permits its movement across said yoke, so as to clear the shoulder n of the rod f.

It will be observed that the movable rod i', carrying the locking or stop block p, slides lengthwise in the tubular bearing t2, and this movement is utilized to disengage said block p from the shoulder n' of the rod f. When the shoulder n of the rod f is engaged with the locking-block p, it is apparent that as the cam cl rotates against the friction-roller e the yoke I and the pressure-roller b', jonrnaled therein, are forced away from the markingroller a' by the locking-block and connections just described. This cam d is radial and so arranged with the marking-die m that the pressure-roller Z9' is forced away from the marking-roller a' when no letter is present at about the time the marking-die 'in cornes in proximity to the periphery of the pressureroller b', thus preventing the impression-die from smearing the periphery ot' the pressureroller b', or, more strictly speaking, the belt thereupon, and consequently the back of the succeeding letter is not smeared as the letter is fed past the marking and pressure rollers.

In order to mark a letter, it is essential that the pressure-roller b' shall remain against the marking-roller a' or rather against the letter .fed between the two rollers, so as to exert its pressure when the die is rotating against the letter. Hence it is necessary to connect the movable rod r with means in the letter-path, whereby the locking block or stop p may be disengaged from the shoulder n', and thereby prevent the movement of the pressure-roller from the letter-path while the letter is passing. The means forseeuring this result conn sists in a lever o, pivoted to the table A and connected at one end to the sliding rod r by a stud-pin lv' and connected at the other by a link connection to a contact-piece or trigger N. A spring 5, Fig. 2, exerts a pressure on the trigger N and serves to keep it normally in the path of the letter for making contact therewith, and a slot t' in the rod r allows the triggery N to assume its normal position after .theadvancing piece of mail passes said trigger. When the letteris fed between the belts ICO IIO

. t Z, it encounters the trigger N and rocks the same. The movement of the trigger crowds forward the pin o on the lever o, which carries with it the rod r, and the locking-block p, thus disengaging the shoulder n' of the rod f from its engagement with the block p. Consequently the rod f is forced outward by the cam d as the marking-roller rotates without forcing away the pressure-roller b', which therefore remains againstA the marking-roller a', exerts its pressure on the letter at the proper time, and supports it during the operation of marking the letter. the rod f is allowed to resume its normal position under the influence of spring n the block p and its rod r, being released, are by the spring p' thrown back to their initial position, thereby resetting the trigger N to its normal position in the path of the letter and causing the block p to again engage the shoulder n'. The parts are now all in their original positions and readyfor a second operationthat is to say, to either force the pressure-roller away from the inked portion or marker m of the marking-roller when no letter is passing or to trip the mechanism so as to hold the pressure-roller against the marking-roller during the entire revolution of the latter when a letter is passing. The spring 5 serves as an auxiliary to aid the spring p in restoring the trigger and the mechanism connected therewith to their normal positions and might under some circumstances be dispensed with. It will be observed that the tension exerted by the spiral p on the locking-blockp and the rod r has a constant tendency to force the block or stop p toward its seat against the shoulder of the sliding rod f and that as soon as the cam d passes out of contact with the friction-rollere, allowing the rod f to resume its normal position, the block p engages the shoulder on the rod f, and unless the contact-piece or trigger is again rocked the pressure-roller is forced away from contact with the marking-die m, as previously explained. Y

In treating the operation of the markingroller thus far I have described its operation upon a letter without regard to the means for locating the mark, which is essential when it is desired to cancel the stamp. To accomplish this desirable result, I provide a cam c', secured to the journal of the marking-roller a', Figs. 2 and 4, and a timing-lever M, pivoted to the table Aland -forced to its normal position by a spring 6. One end of the lever M lies normally in the path of the cam c and the other norm ally in the letter-path. When the marking-die m is in the proper position to imprint on the letter the cancellation and postmark, the cam c forces the timing-lever M out of the path of the letter, so that the As soon as the diem is in the position indicated in Fig. 2 the letter encounters the eXtrem-ity of the timing-lever M, which now lies in the letterpath, and is temporarily stopped until the cam c' collides with the opposite extremity of the lever M, and thus removes the timing-lever M from the path of the letter and permits its onward movement to the marking and pressure rollers, where it is properly marked. It will be understood that the travel of theiletter from the stop end of the timing-lever M to the die is timed, and the cam c is also timed so as to remove the lever M from the path of the letter at the proper moment to commence the impression on the letter from the advancing end thereof.

The primary feeding device consists of the belts a and b, previously described, and the horizontal belt c, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, which is preferably driven by the gear g2, that meshes with the bevel-gear g3, secured to the shaft of the forward drum 1 of the horizontal belt c. These belts a and b are arranged vertically in relation to the belt c, and the three belts together form a moving support for the traveling mailmatter, which carries the same forward to the marking and pressure rollers.

While the three belts a, b, and c form what I consider the preferable form of carrying this portion of my invention into effect, it is apparent that the third belt c may be dispensed with andreplaced by some other form of horizontal support for the edges of the letters. In some instances no such support might be necessary-as, for example, where the belts a and b are horizontal, so as to carry the letters to the marking devices in a horizontal instead of a vertical position.

It will be observed that the pressure-roller Y b' is driven by frictional contact with the positively-rotating marking-roller a and that the pressure-roller b', with its belt b, does not rotate constantly, for the reason that when no letters are passing the marking-roller a the roller b' is forced away from the rollera. by means of the mechanism described and for the further reason that the roller 4 is held against the roller 7 with a very slight pressure, so that whenever the rollers ct and b are separated the friction between the belts ot and b will not be suflicient to cause the belt ot to carry the belt b with it. Consequently at the moment when the roller b' is held o of the periphery of the roller a it stops turning and starts again when it comes in contactl IIO a weight that serves to draw the follower toward the opposite side of the hopper W and against the separatorroller R, which feeds the letters one at a time from the hopper W. The separator-roller R is journaled in a suitable bearing and is held normally yieldingly away from an aperture w in the side of the hopper, as shown in Fig. 4. The separatorroller R is rotated by a belt 8, Fig. 4, and its periphery is provided with a frictionally-engaging face, as needle-pointed teeth, which, as immediately described, engage the letters and feed them forward. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4 the timing-leverM is provided with a fork-shaped extremity, one prong of which bears at M against the feeding or separator roller bearing, and as the cam c' on the marking-roller a rocks the lever M to withdraw the opposite arm or prong M2 of its bifurcated extremity from the letter-path the separator-roller R is forced into the aperture w in the side of the hopper W', whereupon its needle pointed teeth engage the letter forced thereagainst by the action of the follower V, previously described, and feeds the same through the eXit 9 in the forward side of the hopper, whence it is carried between the drums 4 and '7 onward to the marking-roller and is then marked as previously described. By referring to Fig. 12 it will be observed that the arm or prong h of the timing-lever is .attached to the yielding journal-box R of the feeding or separating roller R, the said journal-bearing being guided in a slotted frame B and yieldingly urged away from the hopper W by a spring l0.

The construction of separating-roller R described is sometimes dispensed with, and in that case the timing-lever does not communicate motion to the separator, being then formed without 4a bifurcated extremity, as shown at Figs. 2, 3, and 8.

I also preferably employ in connection with the mechanism a tray T, Fig. l, and a packer P for stacking the letters after they come from between the marking and pressure rollers. Instead of using the hopper and feed just described the mail-matter may be fedby hand to the belts ct, b, and c, and when thus fed a facing-table L, Fig. l, may be employed.

The operation of my marking-machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description and upon a consideration of the drawings. The marking-roller rotates constantly and normally in the path of the letter and is journaled in ixed bearings, while the pressure-roller is supported in yielding bearin gs and is moved toward and away from the marking-roller by the separating mechanism when no letter is passing. The smearing of the pressure-roller is thus prevented. When a letter is passing, the separating mechanism is rendered inoperative by the engagement of the contact-piece and letter, and the rollers remain in contact and mark the letter. Thus it will be observed that the rollers are mechanically separated when no mailmatter is present, and are controlled by the mail-matter through the medium of the connections to remain in contact, so that the passing mail-matter virtually establishes the marking condition of the rollers.

The herein-described means for effecting the separation of the marking and pressure rollers and controlling their action through the medium of the passing letter or other mail-matter is very applicable for producing the desired result; but it is evident that the contact-piece and intermediate separating mechanism may be connected to the rollers in other ways to eect this result. I do not therefore limit myself to the particular form and construction of these parts nor to their particular connection with the rollers.

The secondary feeding device, consisting of the feeding mechanism described, controlled from the marking device, so as to actuate said feeding device at such intervals as to feed the letters one by one in proper relation to the marking device, and in its present embodiment consisting, as shown at Fig. 4, of a separating or feeding roller R, connected with a timing-lever and a cam or other part on the marking-roller a. for moving the timing-lever, so as to force the feeding-roller into contact with the letters, is a desirable and very useful feature in connection Awith either the prong or stop-arm M2 of the timing-lever or with the intermittently-separable .marking and pressure rollers in combination with the trigger N or other device for tripping the rollers,.so as to remain in contact during their entire revolution or with both. However, this feeding mechanism may, if properlylocated,be used independently of the prong or stop M2 and of such intermittentlyseparable marking and impression rollers combined with the trigger N, and by its use the intermittent separation of the said rollers may be dispensed with. An arrangement of this character is illustrated in Figs. l0 and ll, in which a and b represent the markingand pressure rollers, respectively, which revolve in constant contact with each other, and hence dispense with the mechanism for intermittently separating one roller from the other and with the trigger in the latter path and intermediate connections for causing the rollers to be tripped, so as to remain in contact throughout an entire revolution` Whenever a letter passes. The letter-hopper W is in this instance placed at such a distance from the printing-roller that the letters as they are separated one by one and fed from the hopper W will reach the marking-die just in time to be printed upon and to prevent the same from smearing or offsetting on the belt b of the pressure-roller. In this case the wall of the hopper nearest to the letter-exit 9 serves as a stop or abutment against which the advanced ends of the letters are evened,

and the timing-lever M, which, as indicated in Fig. 12, is connected at M to the yielding IOO IIO

journal-box R of the feeding-roller R, is operated by the cam c or other part connected to the marking-roller a at the proper time to force the feeding-roller against the letters in the hopper W. Under this construction a letter in hopper W is separated and fed forward at each revolution of the marking-roller in time to be marked at the proper point by the die on the marking-roller and to prevent the said die from offsetting onto the belt b.- I, however, prefer the construction represented in Fig. 4, where the separating or feeding roller Vis combined with the intermittentlyseparable rollers c b', and the contact-piece N, in the letter-path, arranged and connected as described, and also with the prong or letter-stop M2 for properly timing the passage of the mail-matter to the marking-die.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-a l. The combination with a letter-feeder, of a marking-roller, and an impression -roller, one of which is yieldingly mounted against the other, and means for intermittently separating them when no letter is passing, and a device in the letter-path operated by the passing letter to render such separating means inoperative.

2. The combination, of a continuously and positively rotating marking-roller, and a pressure-roller mounted in a frame movable with respect to the marking-roller, with an intermittently-acting separating device between the marking-roller and the frame carrying the pressure-roller, means for locking the separating device, and means for releasing the locking device, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, of a marking-roller and a pressure-roller yieldingly held against the marking-roller, with an intermittentlyacting separating device between the marking and pressure rollers, means for locking the separating device, and a trigger arranged in the letter-path and connected with said means for locking,whereby the locking means are released and the intermittent separation of the marking and pressure rollers is suspended 4whenever a letter engages with the trigger, substantially as described.

et. The combination with a marking-roller and an impression-roller, one of which is yieldingly mounted relatively to the other, of means for intermittently separating them, means for rendering such separating means inoperative, a letter-feeder, and a movable letter-timing stop operated by means on one of said rollers. f

and means for breaking the connection when p a letter is passing.

6. The combination, of a continuously and positively rotating marking roller, and a pressure-roller mounted in a frame movable I a letter-timing stop intermittently movable in the letter-path, a marking-roller provided with means for moving theAletter-timing stop, ayieldingly-mountedimpressionroller,means for separating the marking and impression rollers during a part of their revolution when no letter is present, and a device for rendering the separating means inoperative when a letter is in position to b e marked.

8. The combination, of a support for mailmatter While being marked, a marking-roller, anda pressure-rollermounted in a movable frame, with an intermittently-acting separating device between the marking-roller and the movable frame, a locking device for said separating device, and a trigger projecting into the letter-path and connected with the locking device, whereby the locking device is released and the intermittent separation of `the marking and pressure rollers is suspended whenever a letter engages with the trigger, substantially as set forth.

IOO

9;,The combination, of a marking-roller 1 and a cam on its shaft, with a pressure-roller mounted in a yielding frame, a movable rod mounted in the yielding frame and bearing against said cam, a locking device for locking the movable rod to the yielding frame, and a trigger'in the letter-path connected With the means for locking the movable rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. l

Y l0. The combination,witl1amarking-roller, and a cam on its shaft, of a pressure-roller mounted in a movable yoke, apmovable rod attached to the yoke and bearing against the cam on the marking-roller, a locking-block normally in Contact With the movable rod for locking it detachably to the roller-yoke, and a contact-piece in the letter-path connected to the locking-block by means, substantially as described, whereby the sliding block is disengaged by a letter colliding with the contact-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. A feed mechanism comprising a feedroller in combination with a marking-roller, an impression-roller and a mail-matter-timing stop, of suitable connecting mechanism operated by one of said rollers for controlling VI2O the marking of the mail-matter and preventing the smearing of the impression-roller when no mail-matter is present.

12. The combination with a marking-roller and an impression-roller, of a yielding bearing for one of said rollers, a cam on the other roller, a movable rod on the yielding bearing acting in conjunction with said cam, a stop for engaging the rod, a contact-piece, and connections between said contact-piece and stop.

13. The combination, Witha marking-roller and a pressure-roller, one of which is mounted in a movable frame, of a movable rod mounted in the movable frame,a part on the other roller for intermittently acting against the movable rod, a stop or locking block to lock the movable rod to the movable frame, and a trigger or contact-piece in the letter-path and connected to the stop or locking block, substantally as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination,with a marking-roller and a pressure-roller, one of which is mounted in a movable frame, and belts for feeding the mail-matter to the marking-roller, one of said belts having its lower edge arranged to expose a portion of the letter to the action of the marking-roller, of a movable rod mounted in the movable frame, a part on the other roller for intermittently acting against the movable rod, a stop or locking block to lock the movable rod to the movable frame, and a trigger or contact-piece in the letter-path and connected to the stop or locking block, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. Thecombination,witharevolvingmarking-roller, and a pressure-roller carried by a movable frame, of an intermittently-acting separating device between the marking-roller and the fraine carrying the pressure-roller, means for locking the separating device, and a trigger or contact device extendinginto the letter-path and connected to the means for locking the separating device, whereby the passing inail-matter prevents the outward movement of the pressure-roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. The combination, with the markingroller-and movable pressure-roller, of devices for moving the latter to and from the former, a trigger or contact-piece, and connections whereby the movement of the trigger by the mail-matter prevents the outward movement of the pressure-roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. The combination, of a marking roller rotating in fixed bearings, and a pressureroller journaled in a yielding bearing, with a cam on the shaft of one of said rollers, a movable rod mounted in the yielding beariugand bearing against the cam, a device for locking the movable rod to the yielding bearing, and a trigger or contact-piece extending into the letter-path and connected to the locking device, to trip the movable rod whenever a letter passes, and cause the pressure-roller to bear against the marking-roller throughout an entire revolution, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. The combination, of a movable yoke, I, carrying a pressure-roller and having a sliding rod, f, mounted in bearings thereon, and a friction-roller on the rod, f, with a cam, CZ, on the marking-roller shaft, a rod, r, carrying a stop-block, p, a piu, t', on the movable yoke, and a contact-piece, N, connected to the rod, r, by the levers, o, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. The combination, of a marking-roller and a pressure-roller, a separating device for intermittently moving one of said rollers away from the other, and a locking device for said separating device, with a trigger or contactpiece arranged to make contact with the mailmatter, and connected with the locking device so as to release the same, and a timinglever for preventing the passage of the mailmatter to the contact-piece until the proper moment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

20. The combina-tion of a marking-roller and a pressure-roller, a separating device for intermittently moving one of said rollers away from the other, and a locking device for said separating device, with a trigger or contactpiece arranged to make contact with the mailmatter, and connected with the locking device so as to release the same, and a separator for feeding the letters one by one to the contact-piece,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. The combination of the following parts: a marking-roller, a', journaled'in fixed bearings and having cams, c', d, on its shaft, a yieldingly-journaled pressure-roller, b', having a sliding rod, f, adapted to bear against the cam, d, the rod, r, having block, p, the pin, 0I, the springs, n, p', the trigger, N, connections between the trigger and the rod, r, and a timing-lever, M, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

22. The combination, of the marking and pressure rollers mounted in yielding contact with each other, and means for separating said rollers, with feed-belts, a, h, revolving on rollers, a', 4, and b', '7, the belt, c, the timing-lever, M, operated by a cam on the marking-roller shaft,and mechanism substantially as described, for rendering the means for separating the marking and pressure rollers inoperative, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination, with a moving support, and a feed-belt above said support, of a marking-roller and a pressure-roller, a device for intermittently separating the two rollers, a stop for locking said separating device, and a contact-piece extending into the letter-path and connected to the stop, for releasing the stop whenever a letter passes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

24. A feed mechanism comprising a feedroller in combination with a marking-roller, an impression-roller, and a letter-receptacle having an abutment against which the ad- IOO IIO

Vanced ends of the mail-matter are evened, ing Witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of of suitable connecting mechanism between Onondaga., in the Stateof NeWYork,this 27th Io -the marking and feed rollers operated by the day of May, 1887.

marking-roller for timing the operation of the I feed-roller, substantially as and for the purl GEORGE NV' HEY' pose described. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have hereunto FREDERICK H. GIBBS, signed my name, in the presence of two attest- LEWIS JOHNSON. 

